Daily Republican., 1887-12-01
. HAPPY CHANCE,

firm of solicitors in Lincoln's Inn.
An important matter of business, too
delicate to be intrusted to a clerk,
took him to Liverpool, where he ar
rived early one foggy Nomember
morning, so early indeed, that being
in want OF a shave before 1t was likely
that the more fashionable hairdressers
had opened for the day, he turned into
small barber's shop in q quiet street
OF poor-!ooking houses, and submitted
his chin to the hands of the proprie-
tor,
1t was happy chance-Mr. GoringI
has often since that murky morning
declared-that led his steps toward
thGt humble shop, for just as he was
on the point of leaving, a low sweet
voice sounded close behind him, say
ing:
''Please, Mr.. wilson,"
"Hullo, Jessiel" said the barber,
"whats the matter? Mother worse?"
"Mr. Wilson'-and the sweet voice
was pitiful and strained-"you said
my curls were worth q lot of money
the other day."
$50 l did," said the barber, eager
ly.
"Will you give me some for them?
Our coal is all gone. and there is moth
ing to eat, and mamma-''
Here Jessie broke into passionate
sobs.
Mr.. Goring stopped forward little,
end lifted Jessie To his Ian.
"Let me see your curls," he said,
gently lifting shabby hat, and let
ting fall shower Of hair of the purest
golden color. Suppose you sell it to
me-" he said quietly; but you must
promise me that nobody shall cut it off
but myself. And l must know your
name. and where you live, so l can
como for it,"
Jessie, whose sobs had been stilled
at the sight OF the money, answered.:
ooh, thank you! Nobody else shall
touch my curls. My name is Jessie
Herrick, and l live on the top floor ol
this house"
"And how old are you. Jcssie?"
"Ten years old last July. Please,
may | go now? 1t is SO cold in ouI
room, and mamma is so ill.," the lip
quivcring.
"You run back to mamma, and
will seni the coalp' said MIR, Goring
muttering, as the child sped away
"If it should be! Ii would be direc
Providence! Aloud he said to th.
| barber
s.Who is she?''
"The child of a widow dying up
stairs. After her husband died sh
| worked for me; but she was not stront
and things have been going badly FOL
the last few months"
"Has che had q doctor?"
eyes; the dispensary Doctor"
Mr.. Goring, having given an orde
at the nearest grocery for food an
fuel, returned to the house, and mount
ed to the fourth floor. A door, stand
Ing open, showed him the interior OF {
poorly furnished room, and Jessi
standing near bed, listening to a gen
tleman speaking in a low tone to hel
"Pardon me-" Mr.. Goring said
"the doctor?"
"Yes; DIR. Musgrave.
81 am friend OF Mrs. Herrick's.
have Just heard of her illness. Ca
YOU send competent nurse? l al
| Leonard Goring, and Mrs. Herrick'
lawyer. l will be responsible "
| To Jessie, few hours later,
seemed that she was living fairy tall
First, there appeared stout, elderl
woman, all notherly kindness, VIII
lifted her mother out of the hot, tosse
bed, made it comfortable and clean, 81
the room in order, made such an ez
trayagant fire as Jessie had never seeI
and then began to cook delicious thing
taken out of a great hamper sent inl
the room. All the luxuries the pot
child had vainly longed TO give hi
mother appeared as II by magic, an
her own hunger was satisfied as it ha
not been for weeks.
Day after day, for the business o
which he had visited Liverpool detail
ed him for many weeks, Leonard Go
ing climbed the stairs to Mrs. lie
rick's room, to hear from the nur'
how the poor little widow was gettir
on. She was able, after awhile, to
up, and looked like a fair, pretty Chi
in her big chair. Fruit, flowers, book
all were sent to make the hours
conyalescence less tedious, and whe
at last he departed, he tried to lace u
fact that an episode OF his NE w
nearly over, that it would cost nj
: bitter pain to resign.
"Who would have imagined"
asked himself, scornfully, that
who never cared tor q woman IN n
life, would walk into hack attic al
fall in love with q widow? can't a
her to marry me, that is clear. N
would think had had mercenary o
iects in view all the time. think
will write. | will, I'd better n
. trust myself to see her again, al
Briggs knows all about the case"
III Little Mrs. Herrick, In soft, Will
wrapper and shawl, was sitting In b
big chair, with Jessie nesting on
low seat beside her, talking OF N
Goring. Mrs Mcguire, bustling abo
the room, smiled meaningly as I
sentences reached her ears, but 8
was a discreet woman and held b
tongue. ,
"Though," she thought, ''if ev
two people were over head and et
in love, them's the two. Young tol
never had it worse.
"When he comes today" M
!. Herrick was saying, when a rap
the door interrupted her.
|, A gentleman was ushered in, W
!, introduced himself:
4 "Mr. Briggs, Mrs. Herrick. ha
II letter from Mr.. Goring that will
plain"